In reference to a prior post by copycat, I have had 6 optical drives fail in 5 computers. I am going to follow up on the suggestion about removing inCD packet writing software, however, I wonder about the durability of optical drives.

I'm not out of money for drives, nor out of platforms, nor patience, but I am running short on answers. Any further suggestions would be appreciated, or even the experience of others with possibly the same situation.

In reference to a prior post by copycat, I have had 6 optical drives fail in 5 computers. I am going to follow up on the suggestion about removing inCD packet writing software, however, I wonder about the durability of optical drives.

I'm not out of money for drives, nor out of platforms, nor patience, but I am running short on answers. Any further suggestions would be appreciated, or even the experience of others with possibly the same situation.

Hey, maybe we'll all find that "We can't taste our beer".

Thanks, Chris

A common cause of optical drive failure is tobacco smoke. If the computers are in a place where people are allowed to smoke, the chances are that the sticky tar residue in the smoke has coated the laser lenses with a brown deposit. This would have to be cleaned off carefully and gently with something like isoprol or surgical spirit. So many drives failing like that is unusual (unless they are very old/have been used to death), so smoking may well be the cause. Other than that, it could be a problem with dust on the lenses. Are the drives in a dusty atmosphere?

If smoke can't reach the inner corners of a room how can it affect the deep inside of a CD/DVD-RW drive? I find that a little hard to believe unless you're using the drive just for holding your ashtray on its tray.

well the truth is that optical do tend to be a little bit more sensitive than any other hardaware in a comp, but then again, i haven't really ever cleaned a drive's lens cause of this.. I've cleaned the lens of my Sega Mega CD(for those that remember) once, many years ago..the flippy tray was because of the dust on the lens.. who knows? but smoking? that i find to be a little bit off. well....